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A treasury of sayings, teachings, parables and stories by the outstanding Chassidic sage, mystic and visionary, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772-1810), whose message of faith, hope, courage, simplicity and joy is essential to each one of us and essential to the whole world.Translated by Rabbi Avraham Greenbaum

THE ESSENTIAL RABBI NACHMAN

FAITH

If you have faith, you are truly alive

When you have faith, every day is filled with good. When things go well, it is certainly good. But even if things go wrong and you suffer, this is also good. For you trust that G-d will have mercy and will eventually send good. Everything must be good, because everything comes from G-d.

A person who lacks faith is not truly alive, because as soon as something bad happens he gives up all hope. He has no way to comfort himself because, having no faith, he has placed himself outside G-d’s providence and therefore, for him, there is no good at all.

If you have faith, you will have a good and beautiful life.

Sichot Haran #53

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The Essential Rabbi Nachman

This elegant, easy-to-read pocket-size volume is a comprehensive treasury of the most inspirational sayings, profound teachings, parables and stories of the outstanding Chassidic sage, mystic and visionary, Rabbi Nachman of Breslov (1772-1810), whose message of faith, hope, courage, simplicity and joy is essential to each one of us and essential to the whole world.

JOIN AZAMRA’S GLOBAL NETWORK, if you would like to join Azamra in spreading Torah spirituality and healthy living in Israel or anywhere else in the world, please register with the HAVERIM Global Network.

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Azamra means “I will sing” (Psalms 146:2)

“And the way to sing the song of joy is by seeking the good in all people, especially in ourselves. Each good point is one more note in the song of life!”

The Teachings of Rebbe Pinchas of Koretz and His Disciple, Rebbe Raphael of Bershad

ON SELF-NEGATION

“According to R. Pinhas there is no substitute for absolute humility, hence miracles are never the outcome of concerted effort, as in the case of the effort of the Maggid during prayer. Miracles and changes in nature cannot be attained by means of contemplative prayer and the deliberate stripping away of the physical during prayer, but arise only from the annihilation of the ego. … At the base of R. Pinhas’ passive attitude … is his great sensitivity to the potential for spiritual self-deception, and his recognition that every spiritual and religious effort includes the dangerous pitfall of pride that contradicts all possibility for life within the Ayin [nought]. R. Pinhas connects the world of Ayin with the transformations that arise from direct Divine intervention in the world. What is novel in his writings is his emphasis on the importance of not knowing, on the removal of self-consciousness, that is, pride. … Annihilation of the ego is a state of spiritual torpor and folly … But just as the secret of renewal in nature resides in sleep and awakening, thus the more foolish a man is in his own eyes, the more he is spiritually and physically renewed. These ideas should be understood in the light of R. Pinhas’ extremely passive doctrine concerning spiritual techniques. Spiritual wonder and real renewal are recognizable in their being a gift from above and what is really given to man is his self-contraction”.

–New models of the sacred leader at the beginning of Hasidism, by Ron Margolin, in Saints and Role Models in Judaism and Christianity, edited by Joshua Schwartz and Marcel Poorthuis, pp. 388-389 (B)

Once, we used to say “Pleased to meet you”, or “Nice to meet you” to new faces. Now, we say this less. Maybe we avoid such words because we feel they are dishonest. After all, how thrilled are we to meet another set of desires — another hungry stomach. Surely, this is all that another person is.

We can look at others in one of four ways: Takers, Givers, Thieves and Blessings.

Takers — those who want to take from us, and leave us the poorer.

Givers — those who give to us, thereby, enslaving us. Once we depend on them — we must bow to them.

Thieves — those who give, expecting nothing in return. They leave us with their gift, and disappear. These “millionaire uncles” look like angels. The problem is, though, they train us to trust in them, and turn us away from trusting in the Creator. In this way, they rob us.

Blessings — those who even as they take from us, enrich us. For, as we give to them, we grow the more affluent. In giving, we dig up abundant stores we never knew existed — untapped wealth. Moreover, we uncover the Creator, sending us His gift, His help, His blessing. Thus, through such people, we only grow greater.

Into which category do the people around us fit? To a large degree, this depends on us. It depends on how we look at our world.

By Rabbi Avraham Tzvi Schwartz

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Excerpted from “Be a King“. To buy this book as an ebook for $4.95 click here.

Sitting at a table in the clubhouse after a game, Joe said to a fellow club member, “I’m not about to play golf with Jim Walsh anymore. He cheats.” “Why do you say that?” “Well, he found his lost ball two feet from the green.” “That’s possible.” “Not when I had it in my pocket!”

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Akavia the son of Mahalalel would say: Reflect upon three things and you will not come to the hands of transgression. Know from where you came, where you are going, and before whom you are destined to give a judgment and accounting. From where you came–from a putrid drop; where you are going–to a place of dust, maggots and worms; and before whom you are destined to give a judgment and accounting–before the supreme King of Kings, the Holy One, blessed be He.
(Avot 3)

Thursday 6 December / 22 Kislev
Some have the custom of preparing the Chanukah candalabrum three days before the festival.
Since Chanukah this year begins on Saturday night, one should prepare the Chanukah lamp on Friday afternoon 7 December before the beginning of Shabbat, even though it will be lit only after the conclusion of the Shabbat on Saturday night 8 December. This is because the lamp may not be prepared on the Shabbat itself since this is a forbidden labor, yet the lights should be kindled as soon as possible after the conclusion of the Shabbat.

Blessing the coming month of Tevet: Following the Torah reading we bless the coming month of Tevet. Rosh Chodesh will be on Thursday night-Friday 13-14 December. The Molad will be on Wednesday December 13, 2012 at 4:09 and 11 chalakim p.m.

Saturday night 8 December-Sunday night December 1625 Kislev-3 TevetCHANUKAH: FESTIVAL OF LIGHTS
Chanukah is a festival of thanksgiving for G-d’s miracles. The special prayer of thanksgiving for the Chanukah miracles (‘Al Hanissim) is added daily to each Amidah prayer and Birchat HaMazon (Grace after Meals). On each of the days of Chanukah, after the morning (shacharit) Amidah prayer, full Hallel (Psalms 113-118) is recited.Special Chanukah Torah readings: On each of the days of Chanukah there is a special Torah reading selected from the account of the sacrifices offered by the Princes of the Twelve Tribes in celebration of the inauguration of the wilderness Sanctuary (Numbers 7:1-8:4).

The days of Chanukah are days of joy. It is forbidden to fast and it is customary to hold feasts and to eat some fried foods (such as doughnuts — no need for excess!!!) in memory of the miracle of the oil, and a milk or cheese dish in memory of the heroism of Judith, who fed the Greek general Holfurnos until he was drowsy and then cut off his head.
For detailed laws and customs of the festival, click HERE or HERE.

Saturday night 8 December / 25 KislevKINDLING THE FIRST LIGHT OF CHANUKAH
On Saturday night the Chanukah lights may be kindled only following the departure of the Shabbat after nightfall (marked by the appearance of three medium-size stars). Some have the custom of lighting the Chanukah candles before reciting Havdalah, but the prevailing custom is to light the Chanukah candles in the home after Havdalah.

Saturday night-Sunday 8-9 December / 25 KislevFIRST DAY OF CHANUKAH
The first day of Chanukah is the anniversary of the completion of the Sanctuary in the Wilderness (though it was not inaugurated until the following Nissan) — and when Moses saw that the work was complete, he blessed the people “that the Shechinah should rest on the work of your hands… ‘And let the pleasantness of HaShem our God be upon us, and establish the work of our hands for us…’ (Psalms 90:17).
In the time of the Second Temple on this day the Altar was reconsecrated by the Hasmonean priests, who miraculously found one intact flask of undefiled oil for kindling the Temple Menorah (candelabrum). Although according to the laws of nature the quantity of oil was sufficient for only one day, the oil miraculously sufficed for eight days until new ritually-pure oil could be produced.

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Aryeh ben Avraham

I believe in Divine Providence applying to me personally and that everything that happens to me comes from G_d and that I have been given the opportunity to fulfill G_d’s commands makes me as happy as if I had won a fortune, to make nachat ruach for the One who Formed us, and to do the will of the One who Created us.

My only ambition is to give pleasure to the Creator and want to relate to my fellow-man or woman only with loving kindness.

info iThis sefer is a practical hands on guide to improve in Shmiras HaEinayim, protectiong our eyes. As we know, the eyes are the window to our souls. What goes into our vision can affect the very core of who we are!

This book can be downloaded FREE here. A simple yet powerful 30 day program. With as little as 4 minutes a day a jewish man young or old can boost his own life and his family as well.

Rabbi Avraham Tzvi Schwartz’s Books

PiCK-ME-UPs:
Empower yourself, enjoy life!

Not just another book, but a series of lessons to change our lives, turning darkness to light, misery to joy, shame into dignity; giving us a sense of direction, that we may move through our days with enthusiasm and passion, turning each moment into a jewel, a treasure, and a source of great pleasure and enjoyment.

A HANDFUL OF LIGHT

Expands on the very short, powerful “Letter of the Ramban” with classic mussar and outlook ideas. (287 pages) To see an excerpt, click here.

"This letter on humility, the Ramban zt"l, sent to his son in Catalonia, commanding him to read it once a week and know it by heart. He also told him to share it with others, that they may learn from their early youth to hold Hashem in awe. Moreover, he told him, on the day he reads this letter, Heaven will answer his every prayer. Certainly then, one who says it constantly, will be saved from all troubles, and earn his world-to-come. (From the book, Me’ulephes Sapirim)

Behold, that before the emanations were emanated and the creatures were created,
The upper simple light had filled the whole existence.
And there was no vacancy, such as an empty atmosphere, a hollow, or a pit,
But all was filled with simple, boundless light.
And there was no such part as head, or tail,
But everything was simple, smooth light, balanced evenly and equally,
And it was called the Endless Light.

And when upon His simple will, came the desire to create the world and emanate the emanations,
To bring to light the perfection of His deeds, His names, His appellations,
Which was the cause of the creation of the worlds,
He then restricted Himself, in the middle,
Precisely in the center,
He restricted the light.
And the light drew far off to the sides around that middle point.

And there remained an empty space, a vacuum
Circling the middle point.
And the restriction had been uniform
Around the empty point,
So that the space
Was evenly circled around it.

There, after the restriction,
Having formed a vacuum and a space
Precisely in the middle of the endless light,
A place was formed,
Where the emanated and the created might reside.

Then from Endless Light a single line hung down,
Lowered down into that space.
And through that line, He emanated, formed,
Created all the worlds.

Before these four worlds came to be
There was one infinite, one name, in wondrous, hidden unity,
That even for the closest of the angles
There is no attainment in the endless,
As there is no mind that can perceive it,
For He has no place, no boundary, no name...